Rukh delegation visits Britain to learn about party organization (01/07/96)

Rukh delegation visits Britain to learn about party organization

by Tony Leliw

LONDON - A group of 20 Rukh activists was in Britain for a week in November 1995 at the invitation of the Conservative Party, to learn about party organization and election campaigns.

The delegation spent part of its time in London learning about party structures before being split up into six groups and sent to constituencies around the country and meeting local Conservative associations who briefed them on their work.

They found out how Conservatives canvass and fund-raise, met with local activists and discovered how the party gets its message across in the media by visiting a local newspaper and radio station.

Oleh Poliansky, Rukh chairman for Ternopil, said, "We had-a very rewarding time and picked up many ideas that we will take home with us. Hopefully we can put some of what we have seen to good use when we fight the next elections."

Mr. Poliansky particularly-found the work of the local registration officer for Oxford interesting. Nigel Buttler was also sent by the British government to Ukraine to act as an international observer during Ukraine's last elections. He explained how things were done in Britain, comparing it with his Ukrainian experience.

One complaint Mr. Buttler had about the Ukrainian electoral system was the practice of using mobile ballot boxes which he said could be open to misuse in Britain, people who could not come to the polling station because they were ill had the possibility of asking somebody to vote on their behalf, as long as the registration officer was notified in advance.

Also part of the program was an informal meeting with students at Oxford University. Andriy Tyshchenko, director of the organizational department of Young Rukh, was able to discuss the group's work with the president of the Oxford University Union and the president of the Conservative students at the university.

Part of the sightseeing tour of Oxford included a trip to the Bodleian Library, the largest university library in Britain. Mr. Polianskyi, a senior history lecturer at the Ternopil State Pedagogical Institute, was given rare access to the underground bookstack vaults, home to more than 5.5 million books, and to the library's roof from where practically every university college spire can be viewed.

"I have already donated some books to their Slavonic department," said Mr. Poliansky, "and will make efforts when I get home to meet with the Rukh leadership to see if we can supply the university with a steady stream of books."

Mark Mewse, Conservative agent for Oxford West and Abingdon Conservative Association, was equally pleased with the visit, saying it had been as much a learning experience for them-as it was-for his guests. He added; "I believe that in the short time we have had together the members of Rukh have done an excellent job in creating an interest and wide knowledge of the desire of the Ukrainian people."

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